Bareilly is the 7th largest metropolitan city of Uttar Pradesh and 50th largest metropolitan city of India. It forms the outer gateway to enter Uttarakhand state of India. Bareilly is a fast growing city owing to its bamboo market. The city is also known as counter-magnet city as it is equidistant from New Delhi and Lucknow.
Geography of Bareilly
Bareilly is situated in Uttar Pradesh, North India. It is located at 28.35° N 79.42° E and the city has an elevation of 166 meters. The main river of the district is Ramganga river that flows from West to the South-East, separating Tehsil Anola from the rest of the district. The other rivers of the district are Siddha, Dojora, Bahgul (west), Sankha, Deoranian and Nakatia, and their tributaries, which mostly rise in the Tarai, flowing through the district in Southern and South-Eastern direction to join the Ramganga river.
The climate of the district is influenced by its proximity to the hills and the tarai swamps in the North. The temperature of the district varies from a maximum of 44ºC in the months of May-June to a low of 4ºC during the cool months of Dec-Jan. During the summers the air is dry and during the rest of the year it faces a humid climate.
History of Bareilly
Historically, Bareilly was once the part of ancient Panchala, which was bound by river Gomati in the east, Yamuna in the west, Chambal in the south and on the north by the Himalayan foot hills. During the later Vedic period Panchala became the matrix of Later Vedic Civilization. The scholars of Panchala were renowned throughout India. It was from Panchala region that the sage Yajnavalkya was invited in the kingdom of Mithila to enlighten king Janaka. In the development of Upanisadic philosophy Prayahana Jaivali, Pratardana, Gargayayana and Uddalaka of Panchala had made significant contributions.
The remains of Ahichhatra, the capital town of ancient Northern Panchala was discovered near Ramnagar Village of Anola Tehsil in Bareilly. 5000 coins belonging to the periods earlier than that of Guptas have been yielded from Ahichhatra. The terracotta human figurines from Ahichhatra became a model for determining the subsequent excavations at other sites in the Ganga Valley.
During the 6th Century BC, Panchala was among one of the sixteen mehajanapadas of India. The fall of the Mauryan Empire saw the emergence of independent states in the whole Ganga Valley. At that time Panchala was one of the strongest powers in India. It is said that about 25 king have ruled during this period.
The period between the fall of the Mauryas and the rise of the Guptas, the Panchalas witnessed two phases of power - first the pre Kushana phase i.e. from C-150 BC to AD 125 and secondly a short period of fifty years after the fall of the Kushanas, which ended in CAD 350.
The amalgamation of several religious and popular beliefs may be observed through out the history of Panchala. The place became a prominent center of popular beliefs such as the cult of Nagas, Yaksas and Vetalas. The Jain tirthamkara Parshvanath is said to have attained Kaivalya at Ahichhatra. The city was also influenced by Buddha and his followers.After the fall of the Guptas in the latter half of the 6th century the district of Bareilly came under the clutches of the Maukharis. In 606 AD, the district came under Harsha and was part of the Ahichhatra Bhukti. During Harsha`s rein the Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang also visited Ahichhatra. After the death of Harsha, the region was under chaos and confusion.
During the second quarter of eighth century the district was included in the kingdom of Yashavarman of Kannauj and after him the Ayudha kings became the masters of the district for several decades. Bareilly was under their subordination till the end of the tenth century. After the fall of the Gurjara Pretiharas the seat of royal power was shifted from Ahichhatra to Vodamayuta or modern Badaun.
In the middle of the twelfth century the Katehriyas established themselves firmly in the Bareilly region with Kabar and Aonla as their chief centers.
As per tradition, the sons of Jagat Singh Katehriya, Bas Deo and Barel Deo were responsible for finnding Bareilly and the place was named after the two brothers as Bans Bareilly.
During the region of Akbar the Katehriyas rose in revolt but it was crushed by the Mughal general Almas Ali Khan. Bas Deo of Bareilly who was then ruling over a considerable extent of territory was killed and Bareilly was annexed in the Mughal empire.
The development of the city took place in 1657 during the rule of faujdar of Bareilly, Mukrand Rai. It was he who built the new city of Bareilly by clearing out the sal forests. He also founded the Mohallas of Beharipur, Malookpur and Kazitola. He also built the Jama Masjid and a large fort were the Qila Police Station is situated.
With the immigration of Daud Khan, an Afghan slave, the Afghan Rohillas came into prominence. His adopted son Ali Muhammad Khan was made the lawful governor of Kateher by the Mughal emperor, and the region was henceforth called "the land of the Ruhelas". In 1772, when the Marathas invaded Rohilkhand, they were repulsed by the Rohillas with the help of the nawabs of Avadh. The nawab with the help of Warren Hastings invaded Rohilkhand. In ensuing battle of Mirranpur Katra in 1774, Hafiz Rahmat Khan was killed and the authority of the Avadh was established over the entire territory of the Rohillas. The Avadh supremacy did not last long on account of the maintenance of British forces in the region, which led to the surrender of the whole of Rohilkhand(including Bareilly) to the East India Company.
The news of the outbreak of the struggle of Independence reached Bareilly on May 14,1857. The Indian National Congress came into eminence in Bareilly during the Khilafat movement when Gandhiji visited this town. In response to the call of Gandhiji, the Civil Disobedience Movement was launched on January 26,1930.
In 1936, a discussion of the Congress was held in Bareilly under the president ship of Acharya Narendra Deo. In 1942 when the `Quit India` movement was launched, many processions and meetings were organized and nearly 200 persons were arrested. Eminent persons as Jawahar Lal Nehru., Rafi Ahmad Kidwai, Mahavir Tyagi, Manzar Ali Sokhata and Maulana Hifazul Rahman were confined in Bareilly jail.
Demography of Bareilly
As per the 2005 census, the population of Bareilly district is 875,165 but in a recent survey it was clear that city had crossed 1 million.
Economy of Bareilly
Bareilly boasts of many large and small-scale industries. It is an excellent commercial center that has many infrastructures to support the growing industrial activities. Parsakhera is a famous industrial area of Bareilly. Saraswati Camphor Factory, which is one of Asia`s biggest camphor manufacturing factory, is also located here. IFFCO Factory is located in Bareilly District. Bareilly is know for its vivid skills in manufacturing of various types of Handicrafts, especially Cane Furniture, Zari Zardozi, Wooden Furniture, Surma and Patang Majha. There are many large and small industries working in Bareilly.
Transportation in Bareilly
Bareilly is well connected with New Delhi, Lucknow and Agra by number of trains and National Highways. There are about 400 government buses operating from Bareilly region to all major cities of North India. City Buses are available at all major routes of city. There is a domestic public Airport at Pilibhit byepass road which is about 20 Km away from center of city.
Education of Bareilly
Bareilly is one of the major educational centers of Western Uttar Pradesh. There are several emminent educational institutions as M. J. P. Rohilkhand University and Bareilly College. The Bareilly College is reputed to be one of the oldest educational institutions of India. There are other colleges as Shri Rammurti College of Engg and Tech, Shri Rammurti college of Medical Sceinces, SILVER Law College, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Central avian research institute, Hartmann College. Other eminent schools of Bareilly are Bishop Conard School, BBL Public School, St Maria Goretti etc.
